all you fashionista out there have your weekender bag or bags ready. it going to be fashion heaven. As long  as you have a few 100k for cafe money.

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By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter (via Guft-news)
Published: June 02, 2008, 23:32

Hollywood heartthrob Brad Pitt plans to make his mark on Dubai, claiming the new hotel and resort designed by him will be an "incredible attraction".

Announcing the plans for the hotel, Pitt said: "Whilst acting is my career, architecture is my passion. Selecting this development as my first major construction project has been a simple decision. It will underpin not only my values for environmentally-friendly architecture, but also embrace my career in entertainment.

"We will be unveiling precise plans in the next few months, but you can expect something that is not only stunning to look at, but will also be an incredible attraction to visit or stay at."

Pitt will be working for GRAFT design team on behalf of Dubai-based Zabeel Properties to design, plan and build the green flagship project.

‘Heavily involved'

Christina Lawson of Zabeel Properties said Pitt's involvement will be hands on, and will bring him to the UAE: "We can expect to see Brad Pitt in and out of Dubai over the coming months as he is very heavily involved in the project.

"He is not going to be the face of the project but will actually be a part of the design and overall feel of the building. He will ‘be' a part of Dubai when it's complete."

The five-star project, of which the location has yet to be revealed, will include an 800-room five-star hotel, which developers hope will eventually play host to the most glamorous events and award ceremonies.

The project will also be socially conscious, something Pitt feels strongly about. "I don't think Pitt would be involved if it wasn't for the fact we are creating an environmentally-conscious project," said Lawson.

"He believes strongly in this, and has been working with the GRAFT team in Berlin and is looking forward to breaking ground in Dubai.

"It's safe to say Pitt will be a regular in Dubai while the hotel and resort is being constructed."

The finer details of the project are expected to be revealed over the next two months but LA-based architecture firm GRAFT have confirmed Pitt will work closely with a team of consultants.

It is set to become a flagship hotel complex for Dubai and a world-leader in environmental sustainability.

The "green" status of the hotel will be measured according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system, and it's aiming for gold status. LEED is certified by the US Green Building Council and provides standards for environmentally-sustainable construction.

Delighted

Robert Norton, CEO of Zabeel Properties, said: "Our master plan and design concept will be world-leading and we're delighted to be collaborating with Brad Pitt and the team at GRAFT, which is recognised for its innovative building design.

GRAFT was founded in Los Angeles and Berlin in 1998, and is involved in a range of activities, from architecture to urban planning, exhibition design and music.

Wolfram Putz, one of GRAFT's founders, said: "This project will become a lead attraction in its own right for Dubai, the region and indeed worldwide. Working in this rapidly expanding location, which is now at the forefront of tourism and commerce in the Middle East, and at the same time collaborating with Brad Pitt makes this a unique opportunity for us all."

Building homes for Katrina victims

Not a stranger to the world of architecture, Brad Pitt is currently building 150 new affordable and sustainable homes in New Orleans for residents of Lower 9th Ward, an area of the city devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Together with film producer Steve Bing, Pitt pledged $5 million (Dh18.36 million) to the Make it Right rebuilding project which is taking place in an area of the city that once was marked by dense housing but was almost entirely demolished following heavy flooding from the natural disaster.

Did you know?

Early on in his career, William Bradley Pitt expressed a passion for sketching his surroundings. Now, it would seem, four children (and another two on the way) and a still-listering career (out next, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, an F. Scott Fitzgerald story about a man who ages backwards) are not enough to occupy his time.

The star has turned his hand to more and more design projects over the years, and his Dubai hotel is just the latest in a long list.

Pitt has long said he's "infatuated" with architecture, citing such design greats as Charles Rennie MacKintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright as inspiration.

He's also friends with leading US architect Frank Gehry - who designed the cellar of the house Pitt and his former wife Jennifer Aniston renovated while they were married.

Pitt's relationship with Aniston would also serve as  inspiration: He famously designed the couple's wedding rings (with Italian jeweller Damiani).

During his visit to India in 2006, where Angelina Jolie was filming A Mighty Heart, Pitt visited the town of Lonavala, where he helped former US President Jimmy Carter, his wife Rosalynn and other Habitat for Humanity volunteers build two new houses.

The actor mixed the cement, carried it to the house, laid it on the bricks and then placed the bricks on the wall that was being built.

"Brad just believes in doing his part to draw attention to the fact that so many people around the world lack adequate and affordable housing," the actor's philanthropic advisor, Trevor Neilson, said.

In total, 100 houses are being built in association with Habitat for Humanity for low-income families in the Lonavala area as part of the 23rd annual Jimmy Carter Work Project.

 

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Fashion icon to design 80 residential homes, which will include a limited edition line.

Designer to exclusively work with Dubai Infinity Holdings in GCC and India

Dubai, July 8th 2008:  Fashion icon, Karl Lagerfeld has signed an exclusive deal with Dubai Infinity Holdings (DIH); an intelligent innovative investments enterprise that will focus on first of its kind projects in non conventional growth sectors, in line with their mandate to fulfill unmet market needs.  Karl Lagerfeld is to design limited edition homes on Isla Moda, the world's first dedicated fashion island, set in the iconic development, The World. This will be an exclusive collaboration between Dubai Infinity Holdings and Karl Lagerfeld across the GCC and India.

"Dubai Infinity Holdings is excited to bring Karl Lagerfeld to the UAE region for the first time as he embarks on laying his footprint on Isla Moda. He is the first of five iconic designers who will shape Isla Moda into an international destination. This is a very important phase in the development and begins a new chapter for fashion in Dubai," said Samira Abdulrazzak, CEO of Dubai Infinity Holdings. "Karl Lagerfeld's exquisite work transcends demographics and is idolized by fashionistas in Dubai," she added.

Legendary fashion pioneer, Karl Lagerfeld is a designer of a multitude of talents. His collaborations with avant-garde fashion labels such as Chanel, Fendi and eponymous brand Karl Lagerfeld has propelled him to Fashion Icon status. However, his versatility and interests in history, architecture, music, literature and photography has made Karl Lagerfeld one of the most influential designers of today.

Karl Lagerfeld has ventured into several expressive forms of art and beauty. His passion for photography took him behind the lens, creating his own campaigns and artistic photography, which are shown in the most famous galleries and museum all over the world. This obsession for photography and books naturally lead him to open his own bookshop on the leftbank of Paris and start a new venture as a publisher of art books with his publication house, 7L. He has implemented his passion for interior design by creating several different designs for his own properties, which reflects his artistic vision.

Karl Lagerfeld's flair of combining avant-garde and haute couture will blueprint the isle of inspiration. "The metamorphosis of art and beauty is my passion. The discovery of contemporary mediums of expression has allowed me to pursue my interest in art, beauty, architecture and progressive cultural exchange," said Karl Lagerfeld. "Dubai is a fashion bud on the verge of blossoming into the next fashion hub of the world. The city is alive with culture and rich in personality, making it a perfect place for aesthetic, fashion and design to flourish. Isla Moda has tremendous potential to be the style icon of the future and I intend on driving the island to high style stardom," he added.

Today, Karl Lagerfeld has recognized the tremendous potential for international fashion in Dubai. Renowned for his innovative approach to fashion, photography art and beauty, Karl Lagerfeld has continuously reinvented his career though the exploration of different channels of expression. Isla Moda, his latest venture, will provide the legendary designer with the canvas for his next masterpiece.

Isla Moda is set to deliver an exquisite lifestyle created and curated by the world's foremost designers offering a unique experience. The island will incorporate unparalleled architecture, lifestyle services, brand partnerships and design. Karl Lagerfeld is the first of five designers who will contribute to this iconic property.

Ms Abdulrazzak who is behind the pioneering project believes that the Fashion Icon's legendary finesse and unprecedented style will set Isla Moda as the ultimate private paradise of high style:  "We believe that the synergy of cultures will propel Isla Moda into international status making it an iconic landmark on the fashion world map. The most important aspect of this collaboration is the fact that we share a common vision". 

Dubai Infinity Holdings recently made headlines by signing a joint venture with India's largest entertainment house, Yash Raj Films as well as launching the regions first UAE national female leadership initiative Style 7.

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About Dubai Infinity Holdings (DIH)
Founded in December 2, 2007, Dubai Infinity Holdings (DIH) is a Dubai-based investment company focused in the areas of information technology, education, healthcare, entertainment, and lifestyle development and management in the UAE, and in emerging global markets especially the MENASA (Middle East North Africa South Asia) region.

DIH is owned by a group of high profile local investors and aims at further building the economy of the UAE and Dubai by investing in key growth sectors and work within the frame work of Dubai Strategy Plan 2015.

About Isla Moda:
Isla Moda, the world's first dedicated Fashion Island. A mixed use development set in the iconic development The World, Isla Moda will combine a fashion resort, haute couture residential villas, bespoke retail offerings and luxury hospitality facilities in a drive to establish Dubai as a paradise of style. World renowned fashion designers from each continent will be instrumental in designing each element of the development.

Isla Moda will include a fashion hotel and a variety of luxury residential villas. The Hotel Moda will have approximately 250 rooms and serviced apartments, along with boutiques representing the world's most prominent designers, many of them exclusively. There will also be design studios and dedicated areas to service world renowned fashion events. Each area will be designed with the needs of the fashion industry and fashion connoisseurs in mind.

Near the residential collection will be the stylish Beach, Royal and Water Villas. All villas and villettes will offer a unique living experience while the limited edition villas will offer one of kind views, private beaches, pools and other unique residential accessories. As a first-of-a-kind project in the world, fashion conscious residents will select from the world's most recognized designers to create their own couture homes.  

Isla Moda will also host exclusive international events, featuring high profile-designers and attended by the fashion world's crème de la crème.  Fashion shows and limited edition product launches are a few of the events that will take place on the island. 

Moreover, Isla Moda will offer first-class service in the form of a personal concierge for guests and residents alike ranging from a style concierge for clothing, perfumery, personal style makeovers, as well as design concierge to create one of a kind living environments with bespoke furnishings, art, and technology. Hotel guests and residential owners will also receive VVIP access to exclusive events, services, and products globally.